Australian Adam Arkapaw has won an Emmy for his work filming the mini series "Top of the Lake"

Emmy for Australian cinematographer Adam Arkapaw

Adam Arkapaw with Hollywood actress Elisabeth Moss

AUSTRALIAN Adam Arkapaw has won an Emmy for his work filming the miniseries Top of the Lake.

Arkapaw, who was also cinematographer on the Australian features Animal Kingdom, Lore and Snowtown, was a surprise winner at the US television industry's Creative Arts Emmys, the awards for technical categories held a week before the prime-time Emmys which celebrate performances and programs.

Top of the Lake, a murder mystery starring Holly Hunter and directed by Jane Campion aired on Foxtel’s UKTV this year. It was shot in New Zealand.

Arkapaw’s win for best cinematography in a miniseries/telemovie was a surprise given it was up against the telemovie that dominated the major awards, Steven Soderbergh’s biopic about Liberace, starring Matt Damon and Michael Douglas, Behind the Candelabra.

Australia had another win, of sorts, with a segment about changes to our gun laws for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart winning an Emmy Award in the category of Outstanding Picture Editing for Short-Form Segments and Variety Specials.

The three-part segment for the Comedy Central satirical news program, featured former Prime Minister John Howard, Tim Fischer and Rob Borbidge discussing the positive impact of more stringent gun laws in a segment hosted by John Oliver and titled Australia and Gun Control's Aftermath.

Other winners at the 65th prime-time Creative Arts Emmy Awards included: drama House of Cards (casting for a Drama Series and cinematography for a Single-Camera Series); 30 Rock (casting for a Comedy Series) South Park (Animated Program); Game of Thrones (special visual effects and make-up); and Bob Newhart (guest actor in a comedy, for The Big Bang Theory).